And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Last week we read how Jesus said that loyal Peter would deny him three times that same night before dawn (Mark 14:30).

Then, after that, they went out, and while Jesus prayed in the garden, Peter and James and John instead of praying for courage fell asleep (vv.32-42).

The arrest came and all the disciples were frightened and took cover in the darkness. Next, as the arrest party went to the high priest’s house, Peter followed at a safe distance (vv.53,54). And that is where we find him in today’s passage sitting downstairs with the guards thinking that no one would know that he was a disciple of Jesus.

He could hear, in the house above, false accusations being made and no answer being given (vv.53-61). That is, until Jesus was asked if he were the Christ and he answered “Yes” (v.62). After that Peter could see some onlookers and the guards giving him physical abuse; but he takes no action.

Next a passing servant maid looks intently at Peter. She says, “You too are one of the Nazarene’s party!”

“No!”, replies Peter, “I do not know what your talk means.” But he goes to the outer door for safety. There she sees him again, and starts to tell the bystanders, “He is one of them!“

“I am not!”, said Peter.

Soon after they agree with her. “Yes, you must be one of them because of your Galilean talk.”

But Peter calls down curses and swears, “I know nothing about the man you name!”

At Peter’s third denial Jesus turned and looked at him (Luke 22:61,62). How it hurt his loving Lord! And how ashamed Peter was!

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We will read next time how the risen Lord Jesus lovingly reappointed Peter to be his apostle.